JUST FOR BEST FRIENDS
8
Mountain Views-News Saturday, March 18, 2017
LOOKING FOR A BEST FRIEND
Charmander is a sweet teen
boy with a glistening black
fur coat and serene yellow
eyes. He was surrendered
to the shelter at a very
young age. For a kitten that
should still have been with
his mother, it was a bit of a
rocky start to life. Never
fear, Charmander thrived
and is now living in Meow
Manor with other young
cats. He’s no longer shy
with visitors, and for those staff, and volunteers that
cuddle him, he’s a charmer and often climbs into free
laps. Charmander is also very playful, and enjoys a
good chase after a moving red laser dot or batting
around toys that come in his direction. After such
a sad beginning, Charmander is waiting for that
forever home he so deserves. Please come in, meet
Charmander in Meow
Manor. Charmander will
do fine as a sole companion
or in a multi-cat home. His
adoption fee is $99, which
includes neuter surgery, a
microchip, first vaccinations
and a free wellness check-
up at a participating
veterinarian. Feel free to
call us at (626) 286-1159
for more information on
Charmander. ID#23602. He
currently resides at the San Gabriel Valley Humane
Society located at 851 E. Grand Avenue in San
Gabriel which is located off San Gabriel Blvd, north
of Mission and south of Las Tunas Drive. To arrange
a ‘Meet and Greet’ with Charmander, please stop by
any time from 10:30am to 4:30pm Tuesday through
Sunday.Website:www.sgvhumane.org.
Happy Tails
by Chris Leclerc
THE LONE COYOTE
Most folks who have lived in Sierra Madre and the
other local foothill communities for any period
of time, have by now developed an awareness, a
respectful regard and a careful concern for the
coyotes with whom we cohabitate, particularly
when it comes to the safety of their children and
small pets.
I, myself have had several relatively close
encounters with coyotes over the past 26 years I’ve
lived here, and fortunately in my experiences there
have been no tragic mishaps, however I must admit
I have, on occasion felt somewhat intimidated by
coyotes traveling in packs.
Recently, I have been seeing a particular
coyote wandering by itself on the north side of
town, more often during the day than at night. I
am not an expert on coyotes or coyote behavior,
but having observed them countless times over
the years I‘ve lived here, I have noticed what I
have come to consider a somewhat predictable
behavioral pattern. So when I see a coyote
behaving dramatically different from what seems
normal to me, I can’t help noticing.
The coyote I’ve been seeing recently stands
out to me because of both it’s appearance and it’s
behavior. First I noticed that it has what appears to
me to be a multi-colored coat, almost like a brindle
pattern which is often worn by certain domestic
dogs. This made me think perhaps it could be a
mix between a coyote and a feral domestic dog.
I took a photograph of the lone coyote one
day when I happened to see it standing in a yard
on Santa Anita Blvd. When I showed the photo
to a few local friends and neighbors, a couple
of them agreed it does indeed look like a mixed
breed. Others thought it looked more like it might
just be sick with mange or another skin disease,
causing patches in it’s coat. Either way, I was quite
intrigued and decided to keep my eyes peeled for
more sightings.
When I mentioned my visual & photographic
encounters with the elusive lone coyote to a friend
who knows quite a bit about coyote behavior,
he said he had seen a strange looking coyote
pass through his yard recently that fit that very
description. He thought it behaved as if it was lost
and moved slower than most coyotes he’s seen
wandering in our community, and that it seemed
much more bold, wandering alone in the middle
of the day.
Although I am not necessarily afraid of this lone
coyote, (I actually feel sorry for
it) I have a healthy respect for it‘s
presence in our town. In other words,
I let it have it’s space! The main thing
that concerns me is that this coyote
might be more desperate than the
ones we are used to seeing. Perhaps
it has been evicted from the pack for
whatever reason, and must fend for
itself, in which case it might be more
apt to attack for self-protection or
self-preservation.
Regardless of why this lone
coyote behaves the way it does,
the fact remains that it could be more of a threat
than your average local coyote. For this reason,
I thought it would be a wise idea to remind the
local folks about the importance of protecting
their pets and small children from what could be a
tragic encounter with what might be a desperately
hungry coyote.
Here are a few safety tips that I consider to
be common sense practice when it comes to
cohabitating with coyotes:
Keep your pets indoors whenever possible.
When you do take them out, keep them on a leash
or inside a coyote proof fence. A coyote proof fence
should be at least 5 . feet tall, and made of wood,
brick or wire. To prevent coyotes from digging
under the fence, you can attach a wire apron
buried 4-6 inches under the ground extending out
from the fence at least 20 inches. Rabbit & chicken
hutches should be elevated with solid bottoms and
partially solid sides versus open wire.
Do not feed the coyotes! You may be doing this
without realizing it. Make sure the lids on your
trash cans are tightly closed and if possible locked.
Feed your pets indoors to avoid baiting coyotes
into your yard. If you feed your pets outdoors,
bring any leftover food inside between feedings. If
you have a garden, make sure it is enclosed in a
coyote proof fence.
Clean out overgrown brush and weeded areas
on your property. Coyotes hunt for small rodents,
and those are the areas where they are most likely
to find them. By allowing brush and weeds to
thrive in your yard, you are basically ringing the
dinner bell for the coyote.
Make loud noises when you do see a coyote
close to your home, to help discourage repeated
visits. A whistle works well for this purpose. If
you encounter a coyote during a walk with your
dog, make every effort to avoid it by walking
in the opposite direction. Never attempt to
approach a coyote, especially with a dog on
leash. You are begging for trouble if you do!
Coyotes are fascinating, beautiful creatures
who have lived in these foothills since long before
paved streets and neighborhoods crept up from
the valleys. Whatever you do, show respect to
them by recognizing their place in the balance
of nature and by giving them the space they
deserve. Use common sense in protecting your
pets and children, enjoy the beauty of our natural
environment and above all, love and let live!
Meet ZOEY & CHLOE! These two adorable
twin sisters, age 8 months, are just so cute and
playful! They have beautiful coloring, being
a mix of tabby and tortoiseshell. Zoey has
the black nose and is a bit tinier than Chloe,
who has the lighter colored nose. Chloe is
very friendly and
outgoing, while
Zoey is more shy
at first. They are
very bonded and
will be adopted
together, which
qualifies for our
Twofur Discount.
Adoption fee
is $100 for both,
which includes spay, microchip, exam & vaccines.
A great savings! Our cats are negative FELV/FIV
unless otherwise indicated.
See more pictures, videos, adoption info &
application on our website, www.lifelineforpets.
org. Sorry, we are not accepting cats at this time.
GOOD NEWS: Bugsy & Sylvester, Stryder, and
Jasper have all been adopted!
HEALTHY LIFESTYLES
THE JOY OF YOGA
REFRESH YOUR PRACTICE
Are you in need
of a shift in
your practice
or do you feel it
has plateaued?
Each one of
us can experience this lack of excitement in
practice. Even as a teacher--rather especially
as a teacher-- I must keep my practice current
and fresh. I have experienced many plateaus
or times when I’ve done my practice just out
of habit. Good thing consistency has seen me
through those times.
Whenever I’ve felt in a rut, this meant it was
time to shift what I was doing. Literally. I didn’t
change everything at once, but a few tweaks can
make all the difference! To keep it interesting, I
create a shift in my asana practice.
Here’s what I recommend: Try a home
practice every day and at least three group
classes per week. If your home practice is less,
practice three times per week and hit a group
class 4-5 times during the week.
A healthy physical asana practice (advanced,
beginning, or gentle) can bring inner light
forward, leading to inspiration. While improving
digestion, circulation, and respiration, it also
balances the subtle energetic body.
Next, I always take a class or workshop with
a new teacher. Undoubtedly, there is some
new nugget of inspiration or a technique that
provides greater effectiveness in my practice.
Last, there’s some attention needed to my
own Svadhyaya, or self-study. There are many
areas of study as we delve into yogic philosophy
and self-healing. Pick an area of interest and
dive in! I’ve created lasting change in this area
from changing my environment, lengthening
my time in meditation, and changing how and
what I eat. These are all parts of a healthy yoga
practice.
Cheers to evolving your own yoga practice in
the best possible way!
Namaste,
Keely Totten
E-RYT 500, Yoga & Meditation Teacher, Reiki
Master Practitioner
Teacher at YOGA MADRE
THE MISSING PAGE
Real Life Tips from LIfe's Instruction Manual
IT’S NOT ABOUT THE EFFORT
I live in an older home and
caring for such a home can
be challenging. Beloved
architectural details require
more work than their Plain Jane cousins.
Chair rails and wainscoting are dust catchers.
Crown moldings, hardwood floors, and
floorboards are hosts to dust bunnies.
Well, my lovely porcelain tile showers recently
me reminded of a lesson.
I had been scrubbing the tile grout with a
toothbrush because I thought it was the best way
to clean small spots in between tiles. I tried hard,
I added caustic chemicals, while I rubbed brushed
and scrubbed. I had mediocre results.
This week the heavens opened to me and
revealed another way.
I bought a new scrub brush, and it’s amazing!
Just a couple of strokes of this brush removes the
grime I had been struggling to eliminate.
Sometimes, we need to make the easy way
welcome and allow a solution in an unexpected
form.
Just as the fly that wants to escape the house,
needs to stop banging against the closed window,
and to fly to the open door. We sometimes need to
make ourselves open to different possibilities.
Do you sometimes feel stuck?
Are you simply bored with your routine? Is there
something that you are longing to experience?
Doing life the same way day after day may no
longer be working for you.
What could you do to make your daily
experience more fulfilling? Is trying hard no
longer working?
We may need to use a different tool in our
toolbox.
To accomplish anything you need a clear vision
because having a vision will motivate you.
Next, you’ll need clarity, and the best way to
get clear is to write about your vision and create a
vision statement. A vision statement is a personal
document that you use to design your life. In it,
you record all of the things that light you up and
get you excited. You must include every area of
your life relationships, creativity, employment,
and health. Write down everything with great
detail and keep going until you feel a sense of joy
and passion.
The next step is to choose which area you want
to explore first and then take a step. Perhaps start
some research on your new adventure, but it is
imperative that you take action and keep going.
As an empowerment coach, I help my clients
welcome more love, fun, creativity, and wealth
into their lives with the amazing tools in my
toolbox.
I’m sharing a free workshop next Sunday,
March 19th.
Watch your email for the details.
Walter Cailleteau, DVM Free Exam!
927 N. Michillinda Ave. For New Clients
Pasadena, CA 91107 Bring this coupon to save!
(626) 351-8863
Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com